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Linguistic Validation into 20 Languages and Content Validity of the Rheumatoid Arthritis-Specific Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire

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Abstract

Background

Impairments in work productivity and daily activities contribute to the burden of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is thus essential to use an instrument assessing both work and daily activity impairments when studying the full impact of RA on individuals. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire is such an instrument.

Objective

This study aims to linguistically validate the RA-specific WPAI (WPAI:RA) instrument in 20 new languages and to assess its content validity for individuals with RA.

Methods

The linguistic validation of the questionnaire followed a standard methodology that included comprehension test interviews (n = 5 individuals with RA per language) to assess the relevance, understanding and acceptability of the WPAI:RA. Content validity of the instrument was simultaneously investigated.

Results

Comprehension testing showed that the WPAI:RA questionnaire was well understood similarly across countries; minor changes were made to ensure fidelity to the original concepts and for ease of comprehension. The majority of interviewees (66/93) considered its content comprehensive and appropriate to measure their ability to work and perform daily activities.

Conclusion

The WPAI:RA questionnaire is now linguistically validated in 20 new languages [Czech (Czech Republic), Dutch (Belgium), English (Canada and UK), French (Belgium, Canada and France), German (Germany), Hungarian (Hungary), Italian (Italy), Polish (Poland), Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian (Romania), Russian (Russia and Ukraine), Spanish (Argentina, Mexico, Spain and US) and Ukrainian (Ukraine)]. The WPAI:RA questionnaire shows good content validity. It can thus be used in multi-country clinical trials to assess RA-related impact on the patients’ ability to work and perform daily activities.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Sara Strzok for medical writing assistance of this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The study was funded by Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark. JL, BA and IG, employees of Mapi HEOR and Strategic Market Access, and GG, an employee from Mapi Linguistic Validation, were paid consultants to conduct linguistic validation and comprehension testing interviews in 20 languages for Novo Nordisk A/S. BBH, LH and MSL are employees of Novo Nordisk A/S. MCR is a paid consultant to Mapi Linguistic Validation and developer of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire.

JL and IG contributed to the data analysis and interpretation, and the writing of the manuscript. BA contributed to the data interpretation and the reviewing of the manuscript. GG contributed to the study design, the data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the reviewing of the manuscript. BBH, LH and MSL contributed to the study design, the data interpretation and the reviewing of the manuscript. MCR contributed to the data interpretation; and the reviewing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mapi, HEOR and Strategic Market Access, 27, Rue de la Villette, 69003, Lyon, France

    Jérémy Lambert, Benoit Arnould & Isabelle Guillemin

  2. Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark

    Brian B. Hansen, Lise Højbjerre & Martin Strandberg-Larsen

  3. Mapi, Linguistic Validation, Lyon, France

    Géraldine Grataloup

  4. Reilly Associates, New York, NY, USA

    Margaret C. Reilly

Authors
  1. Jérémy Lambert
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  2. Brian B. Hansen
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  3. Benoit Arnould
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  4. Géraldine Grataloup
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Correspondence to Benoit Arnould.

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Lambert, J., Hansen, B.B., Arnould, B. et al. Linguistic Validation into 20 Languages and Content Validity of the Rheumatoid Arthritis-Specific Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire. Patient 7, 171–176 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-014-0053-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-014-0053-4

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